Sourced from mature, low yielding vines, a traditional blend of Grenache (50%), Shiraz (40%) and Mouvedre (10%) make up the 2020 Shotfire GSM. The wine is deep red with vibrant purple hues. The nose is complex with savoury white pepper and clove, complimented by brighter notes of wild strawberries & mulberry. An enticing palate of cherry compote, cinnamon and cedar spice leads to a wine with great complexity, structure and length.

Much like the previous vintage, the 2020 harvest has produced wines of immense quality but with very low quantities. Another dry winter and mild weather during the ripening period lead to great varietal flavours and excellent tannin structure. Upon harvest the bunches were few and far between and the berries themselves small. This led to fruit with intense flavour and colour along with great power and balance.

Each variety was destemmed and fermented separately to allow full expression of varietal character. All three varieties were fermented in small 6 tonne open fermenters. To ensure optimum extraction of tannins, colour and flavour the Grenache was pumped over twice daily for a duration of 10 days and both the Shiraz and Mourvedre spent 7 days on skins with pump overs twice daily. Fermentation temperatures were maintained between 22-25 degrees to retain fruit purity. All batches were pressed off and once both primary alcoholic fermentation and secondary malolactic fermentation were complete the wines were then racked to new (10%) and 10 year old French hogsheads. This is where the wines matured for a period of 18 months. Bench blends were created to ensure a harmonious final wine.

When the Clarke forbears discovered gold in 1870 at the Lady Alice mine in the Barossa goldfields, so began a family dynasty intrigued by geology. A fine legacy that is reflected today in the terroir of our vineyards. The Shotfire range immortilises the Shotfirer’s hazardous job of setting and lighting the charges.